33 CSIR labs host DNA isolation scientific activity; over 800 school students join live interaction

NEW DELHI: The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) hosted scientific activity across various laboratories across the country. The activity was carried out by the Delhi-based laboratory, Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB) by connecting simultaneously to all the other laboratories of CSIR through an online mode.

According to the official statement, around 830 students joined the live interaction from 33 CSIR labs across the country.

At CSIR-IGIB laboratory students of Kendriya Vidyalaya No.1, Air Force Station, Hindan, Ghaziabad participated in the scientific activity. Students also visited the labs and interacted with scientists.

The scientific aptitude assessment was carried out under the CSIR-Jigyasa platform which is a flagship outreach programme that connects school students to scientists at CSIR labs. So far from 2017 onwards, about 10 lakh school students have participated in the programme, the official press release added.

The event was inaugurated by Souvik Maiti the director of CSIR-IGIB and Geetha Vani Rayasam the head of CSIR-HRDG. At the event, several senior scientists from various CSIR labs, teachers, and school students were also present.

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Students performed DNA isolation activity at 33 CSIR Labs

According to the official statement, about thirty school students in Class 9 at each of the participating CSIR labs performed the activity by isolating DNA from their saliva using the DNA isolation kits under the guidance of Beena Pillai the chief scientist, and Arya Sidharthan the science communicator from CSIR-IGIB.

Through this exercise, the students were able to learn about the scientific principles of cell structure and the chemical nature of DNA, the official notice added.

Students were given questionnaire to assess their scientific aptitude

After the activity, the participating students were given a short questionnaire mainly designed to evaluate their understanding of scientific principles and also assess their scientific aptitude.

Additionally, the outcome of the pilot study of scientific aptitude assessment is followed by a larger study which is expected to help students in making STEM career choices suited to their aptitude but also policymakers in designing a curriculum that aligns with New Education Policy (NEP) 2020.